15 New Year’s Resolutions

15 Rewarding New Year’s Resolutions

For a Healthy Happy Life!

1. Build a better budget.

If there’s one New Year’s resolution that will help you the most in the long run, it’s making a vow to save more money. Before you head back to the office in January, outline a rough budget that works for you — and make a plan for how you’ll stick to it. Apps like Mint and You Need a Budget (YNAB) can help you do this as painlessly as possible. And supercharge your shopping habits by rethinking when and how you buy things for your home and family; often, there are savings you’re leaving on the table.

2. Practice mindfulness.

Anxiety can nag at anyone during any season, in all parts of life — and it can be easy to let the idea of the future or past experiences inform your reality of the present. Practicing mindfulness means doing everything you can to be grateful for what you have in the moment, where you are in life, and who you are right now, shared Sabrina Romanoff, Psy.D., a clinical psychologist in New York City and Yeshiva University professor. Romanoff and other leading psychological experts say committing to mindfulness can help you become a better person in less than a year’s time.

3. Cook something new each week.

Everyone wants to eat healthier in the new year, but you should also try to eat more diverse foods. After all, variety is the spice of life. This year, choose an easy dinner recipe you’ve never tried before at least once a week. Some ways to schedule this is by ethnicity. Italian one week, Chinese the next, etc. You can also try to fix a different Crock Pot dish every week. Fix chicken a different way every week. There are a lot of ways to get variety!

4. Read more books.

January is the perfect time of year to snuggle up with a new book. To keep yourself accountable all year long, why not link up with friends and peers to connect over the best pages you’ve read? Start a Book Club with your family, neighbors or coworkers. 5. Create a cleaning schedule you’ll stick to.

Keeping your home tidy without doing what feels like a deep clean every week can feel like a big ask. It’s true that you may be under cleaning some tricky spots, but it’s also true that you may be overdoing it elsewhere.

6. Drink Less alcohol.

You already know you don’t need to drink to have fun — so why not make this year the one you cut back and join the sober curious movement? Doing so can help to improve your mood, sleep, skin and your immune system. Plus, it’ll also help you save money in the long run.

7. Commit to a healthier sleep routine.

So many issues can be traced back to a poor night’s sleep. And yet, there is so much more that we can aim to improve beyond a reasonable bedtime. Creating a plan to improve your sleep hygiene — the habits you maintain to get good sleep every night — may look different for everyone, as it depends on when you need to be active and working throughout the day. Your brain actually relies on cues to regulate your internal circadian rhythm, and the choices you make throughout the day can interfere with these. Start taking charge of your sleep.

8. Prioritize annual health screenings.

Open your calendar app (or planner!) and make your appointments for the year in one sitting — not only will you get the anxiety-inducing nuisance over with, but exams will be less likely to get squeezed out as life gets bonkers. Start with your primary care provider, and ask which screenings (e.g., mammogram, colonoscopy) you’re due for. Slot those in, then move on to the dentist’s office and head over to your ophthalmologist, too.

15 Rewarding New Year’s Resolutions

9. Exercise your Brain.

Scientists are always learning more about how humans work to stave off cognitive decline — and while data may be divided, if one thing is sure, games can indeed play a role here. Researchers at Duke University studied participants’ brain activity while they completed simple math problems and found that solving them feels like a reward, helping to curb negative feelings.

10. Plan a vacation.

People who vacation at least twice a year have a lower heart attack risk than those who do so rarely. And researchers have found that even thinking about an upcoming trip can boost happiness for weeks.

11. Drink up.

You know you need to hydrate — but it’s especially important when you get only six hours of sleep (or less!). You’re more likely to be dehydrated the day after a disrupted night of sleep, because a hormone that regulates your body’s water conservation is released during later stages of sleep. So down some extra water on those days if you can — and remember that too much water can be tricky for your gut, too.

12. Volunteer regularly.

Research shows that pitching in regularly can lead to less stress and lower blood pressure. Try to schedule an outreach mission of your own on a day of service; many recognize Martin Luther King Day as a prime opportunity, or even Veteran’s Day in November. So use this day to jumpstart a longer-term personal commitment — and consider working on this goal with loved ones all year round. 13. Learn or hone a new skill.

Leaving your home to learn something new from an expert located across the world isn’t necessary anymore. Turn to global leaders and celebrity leaders to boost your memory skills and more. MasterClass has recently announced plans to launch new courses from inspiring leaders like Indra Nooyi to musicians including John Legend in 2023. There’s a keen focus on intentional courses like successful wedding planning 101 led by Mindy Weiss and even topics like intentional giving led by Melinda Gates.

14. Start walking more.

Even if you can’t keep track of a new fitness routine, keeping yourself moving on a simple walk around the neighborhood is a must. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services maintains that adults should spend as much time moving each day as possible — and some physical activity (even just walking!) is better than none.

15. Ease stress with kindness.

Kindness toward yourself, that is! Recent research shows that practicing self-compassion slowed people’s heart rate and sweating, two symptoms our bodies produce when under chronic stress. So take some time each day to focus on something you love about yourself.

For info on KBA Benefit Solutions, contact: Lisa Mattingly, Director of Sales and Service 502-736-2683 / lmattingly@kybanks.com